Apartments

There are many single-student apartments near all of Tohoku University's campuses. However, for international students and residents that have never
been to Sendai before, dealing with Japanese real estate agencies and apartment-hunting may seem intimidating.

To help you look for an apartment, we will provide information on residential areas suited to international students' needs and rental fee ranges in those areas.

Aoba-ku: Kunimi Area

The Sanjo-machi area contains a number of dorms for international students, such as Tohoku University International House (Sanjo 1 and 2), and University House Sanjo/Sanjo II/Sanjo III.
This makes it easy for international students to meet one and other. All campuses are accessible from here by bicycle. Also, as it is in a hilly area, rental prices are
low compared with other parts of the city. Many international students live in this area. If you have children in pre-school or elementary school who want to learn Japanese,
the Kunimi Elementary School district is generally open to foreign children.

It is possible to commute to Kawauchi Campus for school/work by city bus (180 yen each way). Aobayama Campus can be reached by taking the city bus to a Tozai Line station, then transferring to the subway.

Aoba-ku: Hachiman, Kawauchi, Kashiwagi, and Katahira Areas

These areas are popular among international students who like cycling, as the ground is more level than in the Kunimi, Aobayama, and Yagiyama areas. However, although
they are closer to the city and more convenient, the average rent is a little higher.

Taihaku-ku: Yagiyama Area

Apartments around the Yagiyama Zoological Park subway station are convenient for commuting to Aobayama and Kawauchi campuses for school/work. Except for places near the subway station, many apartments have relatively low rent compared with the Kunimi and Hachiman areas.

Reference: Average Rent for Each Area (as of April 2018)

Area

Average Rent (in Yen)

Kawauchi/Aramaki-Aza-Aoba

48,000

Hachiman/Tsunogoro

47,000

Kashiwagi/Kamisugi/Kimachidori

48,000

Kunimi/Kitayama/Sanjo-machi

42,000

Yagiyama/Mukaiyama

37,000

Katahira Area/City Center

46,000

The above amounts are for single-occupant housing. Two-occupant or family housing may be more than double the above amounts.

This is because although Sendai has many single-occupant units, the number of apartments suitable for cohabitation is limited. Also, when cohabiting it is necessary to get permission from the landlord or real estate agency in advance. Sharing an apartment without permission is a violation of the lease.

The below website has information on housing for international students and researchers that are affordable in terms of not only rent, but also key money and commission fees.
There are also private student dormitories that can be rented for short stays of one month or longer. We encourage you to consider where you want to live with regards
to rental price and commuting convenience, then contact a real estate agent directly.